Victim's family: Tyler overcame problems, helped others

As the Howard County community tries to cope with the tragedy that unfolded at the Columbia Mall on Saturday in which a gunman killed two mall employees before killing himself, the family of one of the victims said they want to carry on the legacy their son was building.

Tyler Johnson, 25, was one of two people killed in the Saturday morning shooting.

Johnson's aunt, Sydney Petty, told 11 News that Johnson's parents are devastated but coping the best they can. She said they are hoping that the legacy their son was starting to build will be carried on.

"With Tyler, we have lost a kind, positive son who reached out to help others in need, and he made a difference. This is so unbelievable. Our prayers are with him, the other victims and all the people who have been touched by this senseless violence," Petty said as she read a statement prepared by the 25-year-old's parents.

Johnson was shot to death alongside 21-year-old Brianna Benlolo by 19-year-old Darion Aguilar, according to police. Petty said as the news was breaking, Johnson's parents held out hope that he was safe.

"They knew that he was working there at the mall, and they kept trying to reach him, and they couldn't reach him. They thought he was hiding in a concrete barrier type place where there was no cellphone service. That was their hope for many hours, and then they found out eventually that, you know," Petty said.

As far as a motive for the shootings, Petty said the family had no idea who Aguilar was and that the relationship between Johnson and Benlolo, who both worked at Zumiez, was strictly a working one.

"Tyler didn't have anything beyond a working relationship with this girl. He would have mentioned it if he did. He never did. We're just as confused as anybody," Petty said.

Johnson's aunt said he was very involved in the community, sitting on the board of a Mount Airy serenity center helping people addicted to drugs.

"He had his struggles in life, and he struggled very hard to overcome his problems. Then he reached out to others to help them overcome theirs," Petty said.

Johnson graduated from Centennial High School and attended Montgomery County Community College. It seemed he had a bright future that was torn down by senseless violence.

"My brother and his wife are being very, very strong, and I'm proud of them. I'm just very proud," Petty said.

According to friends on Facebook, Benlolo leaves behind a 2-year-old son. Her grandfather told the Associated Press that she came from a military family that moved from Colorado to Maryland and that she was on good terms with her son's father.

11 News tried to speak with the brother of Benlolo on Sunday afternoon, but he said he was too broken up to talk.

Images: Columbia Mall shooting

Images: Columbia Mall shooting

Authorities said crude explosive devices were discovered in a gunman's bag following a shooting that killed three people and injured several other people on Saturday morning.

Officials said officers were on the scene within minutes of receiving 911 calls about a shooting at the Columbia Mall.

Howard County General Hospital Executive Vice President and COO Jay Blackman said the hospital's emergency operations plan was put into action.

Police said Ring Road, the interior road highlighted in red, remains closed at because of the ongoing investigation. Little Patuxent and Governor Warfield parkways, the exterior roads surrounding the mall and highlighted in green were reopened.

Police say Darion Aguilar, 19, of College Park, walked into the Columbia Mall and shot and killed two people before turning the gun on himself.

Witnesses recounted the circumstances surrounding the Columbia Mall shooting and their reactions to the events as they unfolded.

Jayne Miller reports from Columbia Mall, where three people were fatally shot.

Howard County police said three people were killed and five others were injured when a shooter opened fire in Columbia Mall Saturday morning.

Howard County General Hospital through its Twitter page said, "All 5 patients from the shooting at the Mall in Columbia have been treated and released."

A mall employee and witnesses describe a chaotic scene as people moved to safety after a shooting at the Mall in Columbia.

A store employee at the Mall in Columbia describes the circumstances during a shooting at the mall

Police said three people were shot and killed in a skate shop called Zumiez on mall's upper level.

Howard County Police Chief William J. McMahon at press briefing.

Howard County Police Chief William J. McMahon at press briefing.

Police say Darion Aguilar, 19, of College Park, walked into the Columbia Mall and shot and killed two people before turning the gun on himself.

Jan. 27: Officers take down police tape surrounding the Columbia Mall as it prepares to reopen Monday, two days after a teen shot and killed two people before killing himself.

As the Columbia Mall prepares to reopen after Saturday's fatal shooting, Zumiez, the store where two employees were killed, is partitioned off from the public.

A sign outside the Zumiez store expresses condolences to the families of the victims.

Jan 27: A memorial to the victims of Saturday's shooting is set up inside the Columbia Mall as it prepares to reopen.

A memorial has been set up outside the mall, too.

Flowers sit at one of the memorials for the victims of the Columbia Mall shooting.

Rep. Elijah Cummings, Howard County Executive Ken Ulman and other officials took time Monday to patronize Columbia Mall.

Rep. Elijah Cummings, Howard County Executive Ken Ulman and other officials took time Monday to patronize Columbia Mall.

This is a kiosk at the Mall in Columbia that looked like this just a few hours before the mall reopened Monday. It appears the employees at the skin care kiosk ran for safety when they heard the shots and left everything behind.

One of the memory books where people can also drop a flower into the water to honor Brianna Benlolo and Tyler Johnson.

These flag poles are just a few yards from the memorial outside the mall.

Flowers are placed at an outdoor memorial at the mall.

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